PHILIPSBURG, SINT MAARTEN – The St. Maarten Sports Federation (SMSF) proudly celebrates another important milestone in its commitment to strengthening sport through education, capacity building, and strategic partnerships.
From June 4 to July 19, 2026, Latoya Lake of SXM Sports participated in the Basic Level Sports Journalism Course, organized virtually by the Centro Caribe Sports Education Center through CACSO Media. This represents the first educational opportunity facilitated by SMSF through its Centro Caribe Sports affiliation in the field of sports journalism and media development, with many more opportunities expected to follow as the Federation continues expanding access to regional education and professional development.
SXM Sports was recommended and selected by SMSF in recognition of its dedication to promoting, documenting, and showcasing sport throughout Sint Maarten. The recommendation reflects the Federation’s confidence in SXM Sports’ professionalism, its commitment to telling the stories of local athletes and sporting organizations, and its ongoing investment in developing sports media on the island.
Held every Tuesday and Thursday via Zoom, the programme brought together approximately 35 participants from across Latin America and the Caribbean. Led by experienced sports journalists, communications specialists, professors, and media professionals, the course covered sports journalism, broadcasting, sports communication, media relations, sponsorship, sports photography, press operations, event planning, and journalistic ethics.
Participants completed practical assignments and media exercises designed to strengthen professional, accurate, and ethical sports coverage. Latoya submitted her final essay on August 17 and is now awaiting the programme’s concluding presentation.
For SMSF, this achievement represents far more than participation in a course. It reflects the Federation’s broader vision of rebuilding and modernizing the sporting sector by investing not only in governance, safeguarding, policies, and organizational development, but also in communications, branding, marketing, media, and the preservation of Sint Maarten’s sporting legacy.
Sport is more than medals and competition. Every athlete has a journey, every team has a story, and every event deserves to be documented. Professional sports journalism ensures these moments are captured, shared, and remembered while inspiring future generations.
Through its Sport Unites Programme, implemented in collaboration with the National Sports Institute (NSI), SMSF has established a growing partnership with SXM Sports to strengthen the visibility of sport in Sint Maarten. Over the past year, SXM Sports has documented numerous sporting events, athlete stories, national-team send-offs and welcome-home ceremonies, Federation activities, and most recently the 2026 SMSF General Assembly, helping bring local sport closer to the community.
Beyond event coverage, SXM Sports has also made a meaningful contribution to youth development by engaging young people in photography, videography, broadcasting, journalism, and digital storytelling. By creating opportunities for youth and young adults to gain practical experience in sports media, the organization is helping inspire and develop the next generation of sports journalists, photographers, videographers, broadcasters, and content creators in Sint Maarten.
This communications effort is further strengthened through the work of Akilah Meulens of 1027 Digital, who has been an integral part of SMSF’s rebranding, marketing, social media, and communications team. Akilah documented Team Sint Maarten’s participation at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, ensuring that another historic chapter in the nation’s sporting journey was professionally captured and shared.
SXM Sports comprises six dedicated members: Dyllan Boston, DéSjaniah Lake, Alexsis Lennon, Jamal Newton, Nkechia Zaegers, and Latoya Lake. Together, they continue to elevate sports coverage through interviews, photography, videography, live-event broadcasting, and digital storytelling while creating opportunities for others to enter the profession.
SMSF views this achievement as only the beginning of a long-term investment in sports media development. By continuing to create educational opportunities, strengthen regional partnerships, and invest in the people who tell the stories behind sport, the Federation aims to inspire the next generation of sports journalists, photographers, videographers, broadcasters, and communications professionals while ensuring that the achievements of Team Sint Maarten continue to be documented and celebrated for generations to come.
Together, we are not only building a stronger sport; we are preserving its legacy, celebrating its people, inspiring the next generation, and shaping the future of sport in Sint Maarten.
